A holiday to Florida!

Hello lovelies,

I am astonished at the fact that I have not posted in nearly two months! *slaps face*
I didn't intend to leave such a big gap on my blog but apparently I have been very busy .. I'm guessing with uni, although everything seems to be flying past quicker than quick. Either way, I have quite a few posts planned so hopefully that shall make up for my absence!

I just got back from a holiday in Florida, as my Granddad lives there for half of the year; I was lucky enough to be invited to fly over and stay with him for two weeks in Naples, an area quite near the Everglades and opposite Miami on the map. The weather was absolutely beautiful; a little bit cloudy here and there but it was still almost 30 degrees. It only rained once, and that was quite a spectacular sight to see! Luckily there were no hurricanes, heh.

Sarasota
The Ringling Circus Museum 

I don't know if any of you guys have seen Water For Elephants (that film with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson) but it was really interesting to go around this museum and learn about the Ringling Brothers, owners of one of the biggest circus' in the United States in the 1930s. You can view some of the actual carriages of the train that the circus would have travelled on and learn about life in the circus at that time, which wasn't as amazing as it seemed. It was a very difficult life and one that didn't come without sacrifice and loss...

There was also a miniature circus! This woman was one of the members of staff who made and painted the models - what an incredible job. I'm sure it must get tedious at times, but is no doubt very rewarding.

A lot of people in business, celebrities and even regular people like my Granddad often use Florida to home their 'winter estate'. For the Ringlings, their case was no different - they have an astonishing house, apparently built in a Venetian Gothic style (was a new one for me!) It was remarkably decadent and the interior almost gave off a royal vibe but no, they were just very successful people. The house is right on the river, too. What a view! Above you can also see the rose garden of Mabel Ringling, which was beautiful. The roses are very different to the ones we get here in the UK.

Tampa

Tampa is the home of Spring Training for the New York Yankees, so we headed to a game to watch them go head to head with the Tampa Bay Rays. It was ridiculously hot so sunburn was indeed guaranteed, but it was well worth it! 

We also headed to Florida Aquarium, apparently one of the largest aquariums in the United States. It was full of kids and school groups, which I suppose should have been expected, but it was interesting nevertheless. There were some rather interesting beasts lounging around...

^ This was the strangest creature I think I've ever seen; the annoying thing is that I've forgotten what it's called xD .. a 'something' fish. Basically, it looks like a headless chicken, and kind of walks like a duck. Bizarre.

In Tampa we also went to a place called Ybor City. Being so close to the Caribbean and South America, Florida is very heavily influenced by Cuban culture and there are a lot of Cuban immigrants. Ybor City is basically like a mini Havana; it's a trendy area with lots of cigar shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. I would have checked out the nightlife if I hadn't been with my parents...and if I'd have been 21 xD

We also apparently stumbled across and ate at the largest Spanish restaurant in the US! It seats several hundred people, so it's absolutely huge, and the menu is extensive with lots of paragraphs about the restaurant and the food's history. I don't doubt it's popular because the food was absolutely delicious! I had the most tender lamb with chorizo, black beans, rice and plantain. Nom!

Naples

Beach life

The interior of this restaurant in Capri was lined with signed dollar bills from the customers who had given tips. Every single note in there was personalised .. awesome.

^ I took time to do some reading for my course!

Chokoloskee

We went on an airboat tour around the island of Chokoloskee, which is an Indian word meaning 'old home'. It was amazing to literally travel through the mangroves and get a glimpse of all the hidden wildlife, so different to what I would normally see at home. It was a very windy ride and our captain kept us on our toes for the journey but it was so incredible to see the surroundings from a different point of view. It meant we could get up close with dolphins as well, which was amazing. 

Apart from these few adventures, we did spend a lot of time relaxing. In my opinion, there isn't so much to do in Florida as there is to do in, say, Europe, as the culture is very different and America is a much younger country. However, there's great weather and great food so it's definitely not to be passed up!

A post on outfits will be done tomorrow!

Rhi x

OOTD: All White Everythang

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Crop top: H&M
Skirt: Oh My Love @ Topshop
Shoes: River Island

Necklace: Topshop

Earrings: Primark

Hi all,

Last Saturday I celebrated my friend's birthday with some of the original squad from my secondary school (how time flies!) I had been wanting to pull off an all-white outfit for a while, and decided a night out was the perfect occasion to do so.

I really do like the long-sleeve crop top with a midi skirt like this; it looks so sophisticated and elegant. I do think I would have preferred a really low-cut crop top to give it more of a Kim K vibe, but I was happy with this one as I can wear it with both a casual and a more dressy outfit. Its also slightly ribbed; a bit more interesting that just a plain white top, especially as my jewellery and make-up was kept to a minimum.

Speaking of make-up, I went for a gold and brown slight smokey-eye with dark liner and dewy, flawless skin as well as my trusty MAC Twig lipstick. Sleek, straight hair I thought went really well with this look and the outfit. Super elegant, super classy.

Rhi x

Products I'm Loving!

Hello guys,


Just wanted to update you on some products that I haven't had for very long but that have caught my attention for all the right reasons!

1. Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

My cousin left this foundation at my house a few months ago (sorry, Rebekah, if you're reading!) and I decided to try it. It's pretty awesome, I have to say. I'm not a huge fan of super heavy coverage foundations as I get very paranoid about looking too cakey, so this was a great alternative as, of course, it is supposed to be like skin. You can also build it up. You only need a very small amount to begin with (it's quite annoying because it doesn't have a pump!) I use the lightest shade, which is Ivory, and it works very well, if not the tiniest bit yellowy. Love the finish and it has definitely encouraged me to try more of Revlon's foundations, such as Photoready and Colorstay.

2. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion

Blimey. This eyeliner is incredible. It's the blackest of blacks, very creamy and super long wearing. Although Urban Decay is quite pricey, if you want an eyeliner that actually does the job then I think it's worth spending a little bit more, if you're a big eyeliner fan. I know I certainly am, and this has made me even more excited about wearing smoldering eyeliner in the future.

3. Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Conditioner

Having dyed my hair over many years, my already fine locks are not exactly in the world's best condition. This conditioner with olive oil and avocado oils attracted me because of it being jam-packed with natural ingredients, and it nourishes hair that is dry and damaged. I found it was extremely light and had quite a mild, pleasant smell, easy to wash out. It made me hair lovely and shiny as well as very soft once it was dry. Great for hair that has been subject to excessive heat styling also.

4. MAC Lipstick in Twig

Thanks to Kylie Jenner, everybody and their Mum knows about this lipstick, and I finally jumped onto the bandwagon because I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Gah, this lipstick is gorgeous! I didn't know if it would suit my skin colour but it absolutely did and my lips look amazing with this and a little bit of lipliner. Very long-wearing...you know, I can't really rave enough about MAC lipsticks. Go and get some. Now. 

Rhi x

4 Healthy Breakfasts to Start Your Day - WARNING: Not ideal if you're in a rush!

Hello guys,

I want to incorporate more foodie posts into my blog and I thought I would start off by saying .. how much I absolutely love breakfast. Seriously. Breakfast is amazing. I don't understand people that don't eat breakfast.

They say 'I don't have time'.

They say 'I'm not hungry in the mornings.'

(How can you not be hungry after an eight hour sleep?!)

People make a lot of excuses but the truth is, breakfast is fundamental for a healthy and happy lifestyle. It kick-starts your day and gives you enough energy to get your brain and your body working for whatever tasks you need to do within those precious 24 hours. There are so many delicious combinations of things to eat at breakfast time, and I'm here to share a few of my faves...

1. Carrot Cake Inspired Porridge

Ingredients:
- 1 cup of rolled oats

- Half a cup of semi-skimmed milk

- Half a cup of water

- 2 medium sized carrots

- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar

- Handful of walnuts

This porridge may look slightly questionable but it was very tasty! I grated the carrots so that they wouldn't be too lumpy in the porridge and then added all the ingredients to the pan. This is a great was of incorporating veggies into your diet if you aren't a huge veggie fan! It did take the longest to assemble but it's worth it if you want to try something quite different for breakfast. I was craving an experiment so looked on Pinterest and found some great inspo. Make sure - if you're doing this recipe - to add quite a lot of spices or sugar to take away the taste of the carrots!

2. Porridge topped with Banana, Blueberries and Raisins

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of rolled oats

- 1 cup of semi-skimmed milk

- Squeeze of honey

- 1 banana

- Handful of blueberries

- Handful of raisins

This is an example of porridge I have quite often as it is literally simple porridge topped with fruit. Honey is one of my absolute favourite food items as it is a natural sweetener so I don't feel too guilty eating it on a regular basis! Banana, blueberries and raisins are a really great combination. If the banana is too stodgy, stick to just the blueberries and raisins. I know I can eat mountains of porridge but other people find it very filling! A good thing really...

3. Apricot and Peach Porridge

Ingredients: 

- 1 cup of rolled oats

- 1 cup of semi-skimmed milk

- Helping of apricot jam

- Tinned peaches

This is something I came up with very recently. In fact, this was the first time I tried it - but it was delish! A different spin on normal fruity porridge. Obviously the apricot and peach flavours work together very well indeed. 

4. Yoghurt, Granola and Fruit Bowl

 Ingredients:

- Quite a lot of coconut yoghurt mixed with natural yoghurt

- Plain granola

- Squeeze of honey

- Half an apple

- 1 tangerine

- 1 banana

- Handful of blueberries

Oh my. This is what happened when I ran out of porridge. Sometimes you need to lose something .. in order to discover something new. Gosh, you can see what philosophical effect breakfast has had on me .. anyway, this works great with natural yoghurt but I decided to go with coconut for a hint of flavour (fruit yoghurt might be a bit too strong considering there's so much going on on top.) I added lots of different fruit for some variety and then a bit of honey as a condiment. 

I also had two boiled eggs as I was super hungry and wanted a bit of protein. They say that you should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar. Pretty good philosophy in my opinion!

Thanks for reading! Make sure you eat your breakfast...

Rhi x

OOTD: Brunch Date

Jumper: Vintage

Bottoms: American Apparel

Coat: H&M

Scarf: Forever 21

Ring: Primark

Earrings: Superdrug

Boots: Timberland

Hey all,

There's nothing better than a cosy jumper and some good food to make you feel great. I love the baby blue colour of this particular jumper and its slight turtleneck (I dunno, does that count as a turtleneck?) Blue and black are probably my two favourite colours so this was the perfect outfit for me.

Check out the app 'Depop' for some really great deals on clothes, shoes and accessories. It's where I found my Timberland boots for £70!

Hope everyone has a great day <3

Rhi x

OOTD: Hello 2015

Jacket: H&M
Tee: Primark (Men's)

Trousers: New Look

Bag: River Island

Necklace: Vintage

Rings: Primark and H&M

Happy New Year!

Honestly, where does the time go? It seemed like only yesterday I was parading round in a red and orange puffy floral skirt, black tights and plimsolls *shudders*

Despite my style having changed (thankfully) I feel like this new year I don't particularly want to change .. myself. Resolutions are all well and good but there's no time like the present if you want to adjust your life or character. I'm working to be a more grateful and less materialistic person, but I'm pretty happy with myself as it stands :)

I feel like this is a nice, casual way to wear a fur jacket. A white tee, trainers and printed trousers are always a winning situation, complete with loose locks. It's still pretty damn cold here in England so I wasn't being too brave. 

I really liked my make-up today as well. I've jumped on the Kylie Jenner bandwagon and purchased Twig lipstick from MAC to get those pouty but gorgeous delicate pink lips that everyone's talking about. 

Rhi x